Inject some of the unknown into your racing this year — and maybe even qualify for Kona in the process.

Two new races in China—IRONMAN 70.3 Hefei and IRONMAN 70.3 Xiamen—are now the only IRONMAN 70.3 events to offer standard Kona slots. (Visit the event pages for more information.) But there's more: they are two bold new race destinations for adventurous athletes.

If you're ready to take a more Anthony Bourdain-esque approach to your race season this year, why not consider using one of these inaugural events as a springboard into an off-season adventure in Asia? Use one of our races in China as your starting point, and make this year one to remember—while perhaps even qualifying for Kona in the process.

Hefei

Hefei is the capital city of Anhui Province in China. It is a hub for trips into the hinterland of Anhui, and most of its attractions can be covered in a weekend, making it the perfect IRONMAN 70.3 destination. (Visit travelchinaguide.com for more information about visa requirements.)

Getting there

Hefei Xinqiao Airport is an international airport with regular flights to and from most main cities. The airport receives Air China, China Southern, China Eastern, Hainan, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Shandong, Shanghai, Okay Airways, Sichuan, Tianjin, and Joy Airlines flights.

A taxi from the airport to Municipal Square will cost about 100-150 for the 12 km ride. There is also a shuttle bus that runs direct from the airport to the city center (¥25), and is the best option for visitors.

Visa requirements: To visit China, athletes must have a valid passport (with a validity of at least six months before expiration), as well as a 30-day tourist visa. All athletes are advised to get up-to-date information from their Chinese consulate or embassy before traveling, as the procedure changes slightly according to the country you are applying in. In most cases, a passport, photo, flight tickets and/or hotel booking will suffice. For the address, athletes can put the hotel or the location of the venue. Athletes may also provide their registration confirmation letter from Active. Visa processing usually takes between two and four days. If needed, write to hefei70.3@ironman.com for additional support.

Customs: Upon entering China, a health declaration must be filled out, together with a list of objects of value in one's possession. A copy of these should be kept until departure. A customs' control will be carried out when one leaves the country. Antiques can only be exported if they have a red seal attesting to their authenticity. Customs officials may seize audio and videotapes, books, records and CDs to check for certain banned material. Baggage declaration forms must be completed upon arrival noting all valuables (such as cameras, watches and jewellery); this may be checked on departure. Receipts for items such as jewellery, jade, handicrafts, paintings, calligraphy or other similar items should be kept in order to obtain an export certificate from the authorities on leaving. Without this documentation, such items cannot be taken out of the country. For assistance with booking your flight to Xiamen please contact: ironmanxiamen@sino-trip.com

Credit Cards, Travelers' Cheques and ATM's

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in major provincial cities in designated establishments. However, the availability of ATMs is often limited, and the acceptance of credit cards is not as widespread as in major cities. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's cheques in US dollars. The official currency is the China Yuan Renminbi (RMB). Travelers' cheques and major credit cards are accepted and foreign currency can be converted in hotels, in friendly stores and in subsidiaries of the Bank of China. Import and export of local currency is limited to RMB20000. Import of foreign currency is up to US$1000 (US$5000 for non-residents). Higher amounts should be declared upon arrival. Export of foreign currency is limited to the amount imported and declared.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin sockets and some three-pin sockets are in use. However, most 4 to 5 star hotels are wired for the use of 110 volt appliances.

Health Regulations

No vaccinations are required, but anyone coming from areas with yellow fever epidemics must carry a certificate of immunity from this disease. In other cases, it is sufficient to carry a supply of one's daily medications and never to drink tap water.

Language

The local language is Mandarin of Jianghuai. English is spoken by many guides and in hotels. Many taxi drivers do not speak English. (The official language of IRONMAN 70.3 Hefei 2016 is English.)

Getting around

There are few different types of taxis in Hefei. Green, blue or orange taxis are metered and start at around ¥8. Black taxis are also properly signed and metered and are usually a more comfortable and newer car. The fare for these taxis starts at ¥9. There are other unmarked cars (usually black Santanas) as well. You often see these "unofficial" taxis around the railway station and airport especially. These are unmetered and the price is negotiated beforehand. If you don't know Hefei well, the fare will be significantly higher. If you have any major problems with a taxi driver, discretely write down this number if you need to make a complaint and ask for a fa piao (receipt) at the end of your journey. Around the city area in Hefei, you can reasonably expect to pay between ¥10-30.

See and do

Check out Lord Bao Park: The park is free, the attractions can be accessed for a through ticket of ¥50, you can also buy individual tickets for each attraction for ¥5-35. This is a combination of a very pleasant park with teahouses, gardens, a lake, a tower and of course the restored underground tomb of Lord Bao himself as well as the tombs of his family. The park is worth walking through. The attractions and in particular the exhibition in Qingfeng Tower require a certain background on Chinese history. The park is dedicated to an imperial officer who lived roughly one thousand years ago and gained popularity by upright and impartial governance. (72 Wuhu Road 0551-62885950. 8:00-18:00 in summer, 8:00-17:00 in winter. ¥50.)

Visit Daishan Lake, a tourist resort in Feidong county. It's an excellent place to go especially if you have a driver and want to get out into the countryside. There are some minor attractions there incl. Four-wheel buggies, skirmish, and a Buddhist temple with large statue on the lake. Entrance is ¥40.

Stroll around Sanhe ancient town: About 1-1.5 hours from Hefei by bus. The regular bus (¥15) departs at Xinya station near the train station and stops over at the Southern Bus station. From the bus stop in Sanhe, continue the street down for around 300 meters.). Day trip 40km. Small but orderly town which is well known for its Mǐjiǔ (rice wine). It has some cultural attractions like temples and pagodas. Unlike in other ancient towns, most of the buildings are newly built, if in a style resembling old Chinese houses. Streets are unusually wide and straight. It is a pleasant trip out of Hefei, especially if you have not visited any Chinese ancient towns yet. Avoid visiting on weekends if you can. No entrance fee.

Watch dancing in Municipal Square: This square outside the main gate of Xinghua Park features mass numbers of people dancing in the evenings.

Zi Peng Mountain: A forest park with some walking tracks. There is a large Buddhist temple at the top of the mountain and multi-storey Buddhist statues carved into the side of the mountain. It's best to have a driver or take a local. Stop somewhere to try Féixi lǎo mǔjī (famous Feixi old hen) for lunch. About 30-45 mins drive from Hefei.

Climb Dashu Mountain on a clear day in the afternoon. At the foot of the mountain is Snow Villa. Have dinner in a traditional Anhui setting and watch a local Hui opera show. There is usually one show every evening. It's only about 20 minutes away by taxi, or catch any bus that goes to the end of Changjiang Road or Huangshan Road. The walk to the top takes about 30 minutes. Snow Villa is located at the foot of the mountain, as is a traditional Anhui opera hall and restaurant. Watch performances in the evening and eat hui cuisine in a beautiful atmosphere. Hefei Zoo is also located near the bottom of Dàshǔ shān.

KTV (Karaoke TV):Going to KTV at least once is an essential part of experiencing China. Many of the bigger, flashier places have a larger selection of English songs. Best to go with some Chinese friends/colleagues so you can see how it's done.

Enjoy free tea and tea snacks at Ten Fu teahouse: These are nice stores on Huayuan St. and near the corner of Mengcheng and Shouchun lu (across from the main gate of Xinghua Park). You will be presented with some tea sets etc. but there is no pressure to buy.

At Wanda Theme Park you can experience the latest 5D technology and fly across the whole territory of Anhui. The theme park is surrounded by a lake and combined with six historical theme areas, respectively: ancient Huizhou, the legendary spring, Happy Village, nest town, Alice in Wonderland, and Feishui war. At the same time, there is the world's tallest roller coaster, 55 meters and 125 km/h.

Take a picnic to Emerald Lake scenic area: This relaxing area is a good place to escape the bustle of the city and ride bicycles around the lake.

Get a massage: There are a few well-known places, including Laohu massage, that are worth stopping in for. (Along Hupo Ave. in Hǔpò shānzhuāng area. ¥40/hour.)

Drive duck boats around the lake at Bao Gong park or Xinghua park. ¥30/half an hour.

Stroll around the Temple Market: Be careful of your belongings in this area. Always try to bargain.

Shop

Wanda Plaza: A very large shopping mall and cinema complex. The mall has a Starbucks, movie cinemas, and a variety of restaurants on the top level. The mall is very new.

Yintai Center: This is another very large shopping mall with restaurants on top level. This mall has a huge range of designer stores, from high-end to mid-range.

Baida CBD Mall: Comprises one large, multi-level department store. There is also a Habitat Coffee lounge in the center that has a very nice atmosphere. No restaurants or cinema.

Guo Gou Plaza: This large shopping mall and cinema complex has a number of restaurants on the top level, as well as a large supermarket and department store.

Eat

Crayfish is Hefei's signature food. The longxia are boiled and then eaten with dipping sauces, usually vinegary or spicy. Longxia are known as a spicy food and are typically eaten outside with beer. Chinese are often selective about where they buy longxia because longxia needs to be cleaned and cooked thoroughly. Hefei's most famous longxia street is Níngguó Rd. Another good area to find longxia is Hupo eat street.

Look for Fish Bites Lamb, which is fresh mandarin fish stuffed with lamb.

Li Hongzhang's Combination is a dish with fresh water prawn, snails, chicken, sea cucumber, and abalone.